Refugees and asylees are two populations who have fled their home countries for safety. However, there are some important differences between these groups. Refugees are individuals who have been recognized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as being in need of protection. Asylees, on the other hand, are people who have already arrived in the United States and applied for asylum status after they entered. Here we will explore some of the key differences between refugees and asylees.
What is Refugee?
A refugee is a person who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Most refugees are displaced within their own countries and are known as internally displaced persons (IDPs). According to the UN Refugee Agency, there are approximately 70.8 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, the majority of whom are women and children.
Refugee populations are often vulnerable and in need of international protection. Refugee status gives people access to essential legal and physical protections, including the right to asylum. Refugee status is different from temporary protected status or asylum seeker status. Refugee status is granted to people who meet the definition of a refugee under international law and are of concern to the UNHCR. People with temporary protected status or asylum seeker status have not yet been determined to be refugees under international law but may be eligible for protection.
What is Asylee?
Asylee status is a form of protection that may be granted to foreigners who are unable or unwilling to return to their home country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, and membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Asylees are eligible to live and work permanently in the United States and may eventually apply for U.S. citizenship.
Asylee status is different from refugee status in that asylees generally apply for protection while they are already living in the United States (or at a U.S. port of entry), whereas refugees generally apply for protection from outside the United States. Asylees may also be eligible for certain forms of public assistance, such as Medicaid and food stamps. The number of asylees has increased significantly in recent years, largely due to civil unrest and violence in countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, and Eritrea. According to data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, approximately 18,000 asylees were granted protection in 2015 alone.
Differences between Refugee and Asylee
Refugee and Asylee are two immigration statuses that are often confused for one another. Although both involve fleeing persecution, there are key differences between the two. Refugee status is generally granted to those who have been forced to leave their country due to conflict or persecution. In contrast, asylee status is typically granted to those who have already left their country and are seeking protection from persecution in another country.
refugees must generally apply for asylum while still in their home country, while asylees can apply for protection after arriving in their host country. As a result, refugees and asylees often have different legal rights and responsibilities. Understanding the difference between these two statuses is critical for providing adequate protection for that fleeing persecution.
Conclusion
Although there are some similarities between refugees and asylees, there are also some very important differences. It is important to understand the difference when providing services to these populations, as the needs of each group can be quite different.
